It seems strange to dispense with Nakomoto and Suppo after 4 from 5 title wins as I said at the time of the announcement. I can think of 3 explanations, MM/his entourage were unhappy with them, MM is going to leave and Honda blames them particularly after they didn't manage to retain Stoner either, or perhaps Nakomoto or both actually wanted to retire.

I thought Nakamoto retiring was the standard Japanese 'you must retire when you reach 60' thing...

It seems strange to dispense with Nakomoto and Suppo after 4 from 5 title wins as I said at the time of the announcement. I can think of 3 explanations, MM/his entourage were unhappy with them, MM is going to leave and Honda blames them particularly after they didn't manage to retain Stoner either, or perhaps Nakomoto or both actually wanted to retire.

Suppo gone. Tech 3 leaving for ktm. Rumors of truck loads of redbull money for Marc to go to ktm. Gaz talking of back door deals at honda. Maybe this is the future of KTM.

I thought Nakamoto retiring was the standard Japanese 'you must retire when you reach 60' thing...

Did I miss something?

Sure.

If there is any intrigue it is in regard to Suppo who had a year to go on his contract. After I posted I looked up an actual interview which said he was leaving GP bike racing and thought it was a good time to go out, and also looked up Nakomoto's age which is 60 as you say.

If there is any intrigue it is in regard to Suppo who had a year to go on his contract. After I posted I looked up an actual interview which said he was leaving GP bike racing and thought it was a good time to go out, and also looked up Nakomoto's age which is 60 as you say.

Thank God for that, I thought I'd imagined it
Suppo is a strange one for sure though.

Do we think that this all came as a big fat surprise to Yamaha?
If they knew this was happening would they have gone to all the extra effort of providing Zarco with multiple revisions of frames and 2018 engines?

I'm pretty sure that VR64 wouldn't have let Bagnaia go to Pramac Ducati if they knew what was coming...

Suppo gone. Tech 3 leaving for ktm. Rumors of truck loads of redbull money for Marc to go to ktm. Gaz talking of back door deals at honda. Maybe this is the future of KTM.

Stupid as it may sound Dubs, I do suspect that KTM have an ace to pull yet just that I am not sure they are a mature enough MotoGP team yet to attract a rider such as Marquez (give it 2 - 3 more years).

Could Lorenzo?

Could Tech3 be what they need as with Tech3 comes years, literally years of Yamaha experience in the main game that will no doubt give them the experience that they may be lacking?

Sure, different brands and all but it is about the machinations, the processes, the back end work that needs to be done and no doubt Tech3 have that as, race wins not withstanding they are the most successful satellite team of the last 10 - 15 years.

Could Tech3 be the key for KTM or if I really want to get all conspiracy laden, could they be 'encouraged' by DORNA to 'merge' with the existing KTM team (Tech 3 experiance with KTM money and expertise) as that then frees up the spots for team VR??

Hey, it is pre-season so we can come up with as much bullshit as we can .................

Stupid as it may sound Dubs, I do suspect that KTM have an ace to pull yet just that I am not sure they are a mature enough MotoGP team yet to attract a rider such as Marquez (give it 2 - 3 more years).

Could Lorenzo?

Could Tech3 be what they need as with Tech3 comes years, literally years of Yamaha experience in the main game that will no doubt give them the experience that they may be lacking?

Sure, different brands and all but it is about the machinations, the processes, the back end work that needs to be done and no doubt Tech3 have that as, race wins not withstanding they are the most successful satellite team of the last 10 - 15 years.

Could Tech3 be the key for KTM or if I really want to get all conspiracy laden, could they be 'encouraged' by DORNA to 'merge' with the existing KTM team (Tech 3 experiance with KTM money and expertise) as that then frees up the spots for team VR??

Hey, it is pre-season so we can come up with as much bullshit as we can .................

Absolutely agree about speculation in the preseason.

I have had the same thought as you about KTM and Herve. He seems way too pleased for just being a satellite team with a KTM factory bike to be what is in prospect, which would not be better than his current situation at least in the short term. There is historical precedent I believe, if decades ago, didn't Kenny Roberts' Yamaha equipe move up to being the Yamaha factory team?.

Perhaps shedloads of Red Bull money could be what is exciting Herve though.

Its Kawasaki are re-entering the gp scene. Why else would they be admitting Kork Ballington to the "Hall of Legends" at PI at the end of the year. ( Other than the fact he was pretty good and he seems a nice bloke)

I actually think that in many ways HRC had a lot to gain by letting him race (publicity etc) but the longer term risks were way to high (why upset MM/team for a bit part player like CS who by his own admission, wanted to race the circuit).

I also strongly feel that HRC were impacted in their decision by the fact that there were to be 2 or 3 races and, well lets be honest, would CS have wanted to do all ...............

I sit on the fence of whether the decision was right/wrong as I have a toe on the water on each side, but were I HRC I would have made the same decision

I agree with your first statement, and I think Honda & MM had a lot to gain by letting CS race. I would have said fine, you can sub in, but you do not finish ahead of Mark. If he finishes first, you can be second, if you're good enough. If he finishes ninth, you finish tenth. The only time you can beat him is if he's sitting in the gravel. If CS was prepared to play a tailgunners role, he was essentially taking points off anyone below wherever CS finished. Casey would have to check his ego at the gate and accept his role for the benefit of the team. If he couldn't do that, than adios muchacho.

Pedrosa would be a great asset to Suzuki or Aprilia.
I really don’t see Redding and Iannone lasting in the paddock after another season of the same old. If they both get the boot, I hope Pedrosa gets one of the seats and Petrucci the other.